Twisted-Games

Brisk and efficient to the end.
“No,” I said, feeling strangely melancholy. Elin and I had never been
close, but it was the end of an era. “You’re dismissed.”
She gave me a tight nod and walked out. She wasn’t one for dramatics,
and she knew me well enough to know when I’d set my mind on something.
“You too,” I told Mikaela.
“Bridget, I swear—”
“I need to think things through.” Maybe I would forgive her one day, but
her betrayal was still fresh and nothing she said right now would penetrate
the hurt. “I don’t know how long that’s going to take, but I need time.”
“Fair enough.” Her chin wobbled. “I really was trying to help. Elin was
so convincing. I didn’t believe her at first when she said you and Rhys had
something going on. But then I thought about the way you looked at each
other, and that time you took so long to answer the door at your office…it all
made sense. She said you would get in huge trouble if—”
“Mikaela, please.” I pressed my fingers to my forehead. It hurt almost as
much as my heart. If I were old Bridget, perhaps I would’ve let what she did
slide, but I couldn’t afford to let things slide anymore. I needed people I
could trust around me. “Not right now.”
Mikaela swallowed hard, her freckles stark against her pale skin, but she
left without trying to make excuses again.
I expelled a sharp breath. The conversation had been shorter but harder
than I’d expected, even after weeks of mental preparation.
I supposed nothing could fully prepare someone for firing one of their
longest-serving employees and saying goodbye to one of their oldest friends
in the span of half an hour.
I heard Rhys come up behind me. He didn’t speak. He just swept his
palms over my shoulders and massaged the muscles with his thumbs.
“I’d hoped you were wrong.” I stared at where Mikaela had sat, the sting
of betrayal lingering on my skin.
“Princess, I’m never wrong.”
I released a half laugh, breaking some of the tension. “I can think of a few
instances when you were.”
“Yeah? Like when?” Rhys challenged, a hint of amusement shining
through.
I deepened my voice to mimic him. “One, I do not become personally
involved in my clients’ lives. I am here to safeguard you from physical harm.